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was a military decoration for meritorious service to the Empire of Japan, formerly awarded to all military personnel who participated in battles in a war. These war medals and accompanying certificates specifically identify the conflict for which the decoration will have been awarded. These decorations were effectively abolished during the Allied Occupation of Japan in the post-war years (1945–1951). The plausible re-institution of a modern equivalent was made unlikely by the adoption of Japan's post-war Constitution which disavows the right of the state to engage in aggressive war; but on-going political pressure for an amendment to Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution renders that prospect marginally possible.


Japanese War Medals


1874 Formosa Expedition War Medal

The Japanese expedition of 1874 to Taiwan Province, also referred to as the Taiwan Expedition of 1874, was in response to the Mudan Incident of 1871. Fifty-four shipwrecked Ryukyuan sailors were killed by Paiwan aborigines in December 1871 in southern Taiwan. In seeking restitution from Qing China, Japan reached an impasse when the Chinese claimed that they were not responsible for the actions of the aborigines in territory that was nominally under Chinese sovereignty. The Japanese government sent an expedition of 3,600 soldiers led by Saigō Tsugumichi in May 1874. The Japanese won a decisive victory at the Battle of Stone Gate on 22 May 1874. Thirty aborigines were either killed or mortally wounded in the battle, and a great number wounded. Japanese casualties were six killed and thirty wounded. In November 1874 the Japanese forces withdrew from Taiwan after the Qing government agreed to an indemnity of 500,000 Kuping taels.


1894–95 Sino-Japanese War Medal

The First Sino–Japanese War, which lasted from 1 August 1894 to 17 April 1895, was fought between Qing Dynasty
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and Meiji
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, primarily over control of Korea. After more than six months of continuous successes by the Japanese army and naval forces, as well as the loss of the Chinese port of Weihai, the Qing leadership sued for peace in February 1895.


1900 Boxer War Medal

Imperial Edict No. 142 was issued on April 21, 1901 ordering a commemorative medal for those who had participated in the relief of the Beijing legations during the Boxer Rebellion.


1904–05 Russo-Japanese War Medal

A unique ''jūgun kishō'' was ordered on March 31, 1906 by Imperial Edict No. 51 in recognition of those who served in the war which occurred during the 37th and 38th years of the Meiji period -- ''Meiji'' 37-38 (1904–1905). This is more commonly known as the Russo-Japanese War. A rough translation of the body of the document explains: :'' "A medal of honor (''jūgun kishō'') is hereby given, on March 30, 1906, to
Ernesto Burzagli Ernesto Burzagli (7 June 1873 – 13 September 1944) was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Italy during the early 20th century. During a lifetime career in the Italian Royal Navy ('' Regia Marina Italiana''), he rose to the rank of Admiral a ...
, Lieutenant of the Italian Navy, on application by the Naval Minister of Japan and with the Emperor's approval, pursuant to the Regulation Relating to the Medals Honoring Participation in Battles (1904-05). Dated April 1, 1906." '' :'' "After review of this certificate,
he presentation to Lt. Bruzagli of the Medal He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...
has been recorded on the Roll of Medals of Honor." '' An image of the front of the medal itself is shown at the bottom center of the certificate—crossed Army and Navy flags on either side of the Imperial Crysanthemum crest above and the Imperial Paulownia crest below. Although it is not clear from the certificate whether Lt. Bruzagli did in fact participate in the battles or the award was honorary, we know from photographic sources that he was aboard one of the ships which contributing to the naval bombardment and blockade of Port Arthur in 1904. He was with the Japanese naval forces which aided in the capture of that strategic objective. Photographic records also place Burzagli with the entourage of the Japanese
Minister of the Navy Minister of the Navy may refer to: * Minister of the Navy (France) * Minister of the Navy (Italy) The Italian Minister of the Navy ( it, Ministri della Marina del Regno) was a member in the Council Ministers until 1947, when the ministry merged ...
visiting the captured city of
Dalny Dalny (russian: Да́льний; masculine), Dalnyaya (; feminine), or Dalneye (; neuter) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia. Modern localities ;Urban localities * Dalny, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, an urban-type settlement in ...
, just north of Port Arthur in January 1905. and with the occupying Japanese forces in January 1905.


1914–1920 First World War Medal

Japanese participation in World War I was commemorated by medals created on November 6, 1915 by Imperial Edict No. 203. Two very similar medals were issued, one for service in 1914-15 and the other for the period 1914-20. If a person earned both they could only wear the latter.


Allied First World War Victory Medal

Established by Imperial Edict #406 on 17 September 1920, it was one of the series of Inter-allied Victory Medals created and awarded by the victorious allies after World War I. Thirteen nations in all issued a version of the medal.


1931–1934 China Incident War Medal


1937–1945 China Incident War Medal

medal was created by Imperial Edit No. 496 on July 27, 1939; China Incident War Medal
/ref> and was awarded for service in China at any time from the 12th through the 20th years of the Shōwa period -- ''Shōwa'' 12-20 (1937–1945). An amendment was promulgated by Imperial Edict No. 418 in 1944; and the decoration was abolished in 1946 by government ordinance No. 177. Although the
Japanese government The Government of Japan consists of legislative, executive and judiciary branches and is based on popular sovereignty. The Government runs under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947. It is a unitary state, c ...
still uses "China Incident" in formal documents, albeit with the word ''Shina'' (支那) replaced in the present by ''Chūgoku'' (中国), media in Japan often paraphrase it with other expressions like . The word ''Shina'' is now construed by China as a derogatory term.


1941–1945 Great East Asia War Medal

was created on June 21, 1944 by Imperial Edict No. 417. Because of the late date in the war it appears none were actually awarded to veterans. However many later replicas exist.


Selected recipients


Navy

*
Tōgō Heihachirō Marshal-Admiral Marquis , served as a '' gensui'' or admiral of the fleet in the Imperial Japanese Navy and became one of Japan's greatest naval heroes. He claimed descent from Samurai Shijo Kingo, and he was an integral part of preserving ...
, 1906. *
Ernesto Burzagli Ernesto Burzagli (7 June 1873 – 13 September 1944) was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Italy during the early 20th century. During a lifetime career in the Italian Royal Navy ('' Regia Marina Italiana''), he rose to the rank of Admiral a ...
, Italian Military Attaché, 1906.


Army

*
Jeremiah Richard Wasson James Robert Wasson (1847–1923) was a U.S. Army officer hired by the Meiji government of the Empire of Japan as a O-yatoi gaikokujin, foreign advisor and later as officer in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. He is noted as the first non-Jap ...
, American Military Attaché, 1875. *
Kodama Gentarō Viscount was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army and a government minister during the Meiji period. He was instrumental in establishing the modern Imperial Japanese military. Early life Kodama was born on March 16, 1852, in Toku ...
, 1906. * Kuroki Tamemoto, 1906. * Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton, British Indian Military Attaché, 1906. *
John Charles Hoad Major General Sir John Charles Hoad (25 January 1856 – 6 October 1911) was an Australian military leader, best known as the Australian Army's second Chief of the General Staff.Warren Perry'Hoad, Sir John Charles (1856–1911)' Australian Dict ...
, Australian Military Attaché, 1906. *
Herbert Cyril Thacker Major General Herbert Cyril Thacker (16 September 1870 – 2 June 1953) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia (later the Canadian Army) from 1927 until 1929. Military career Thacker was born the ...
, Canadian Military Attaché, 1906. *
Granville Roland Fortescue Granville Roland Fortescue (October 12, 1875 – April 21, 1952) was an American soldier, a Rough Rider serving with his cousin, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in Cuba, a presidential aide in the first Roosevelt administration and later, a journalist ...
, American Military Attaché, 1906. * Masanobu Tsuji, 1939. * Teruo Nakamura, 1974. * Hiroo Onoda, 1974. * Shoichi Yokoi, 1972.Kristof, Nicholas D
"Shoichi Yokoi, 82, Is Dead; Japan Soldier Hid 27 Years,"
''New York Times.'' September 26, 1997; Guam


Notes


See also

* , ''Meiji'' 28-29 (1894–1895) * , ''Taishō'' 3-7, (1914–1918) * or , ''Shōwa'' 6-16 (1931–1941). * , ''Shōwa'' 6-20 (1931–1945). * , ''Shōwa'' 12-20 (1937–1945). * , ''Shōwa'' 16-20 (1941–1945). * , ''Shōwa'' 16-20 (1941–1945).


References

* Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley. (2001). ''Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States. San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America.'' * Rottman, Gordon L. and Michael Welply. (2005)
''Japanese Infantryman 1937-45: Sword of the Empire.''
Oxford:
Osprey Publishing Osprey Publishing is a British, Oxford-based, publishing company specializing in military history. Predominantly an illustrated publisher, many of their books contain full-colour artwork plates, maps and photographs, and the company produces ov ...
.


External links

* Japan, Cabinet Office
Decorations and Medals
the ''Jūgun kishō'' is unmentioned in current system of honors * Japan Mint
Production Process




{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Medal Of Honor (Japan) Military awards and decorations of Japan Military of the Empire of Japan